"Flute, Nominal pitch: C"

Flute, Nominal pitch: C | Bizey | Probably 1720 - c 1750

In the late 17th century, the transverse flute was transformed from a one piece, keyless, cylindrical bore instrument into one with a conical bore, one key and in three sections. In the early 18th century, the body section of the flute was further divided, and Charles Bizey was one of the early makers of the new four piece instrument. Purchased with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University's General Council Trust. (Glen Collection).

Transverse flute

Instrument Data

Instrument Information

Title

Flute, Nominal pitch: C

Accession Number

0012

Collection

Glen Collection; MIMEd

Date Information

Date Made

Probably 1720 - c 1750

Gallery Information

Gallery

Wolfson Gallery

Case

Woodwind case 1

Maker Information

Maker Name

Bizey

Maker Biography

Charles Bizey (1716-1758) was a French born woodwind maker and member of the Paris Society of Mater Instrument Makers. His workshop on the rue Daulphine in Paris was renowned for their reed instruments and oboes, and continued production until 1812, long after Bizey’s death. His mark is a fleur-de-lis above his name, occasionally followed including a sun underneath. Roughly 31 of his instruments survive to this day. Charles Bizey (active from 1716 to after 1752) was received into the Master Musical Instrument Makers Guild in Paris in 1716. He was an instrument inventor and developer of note (an oboe “descending to G like the violin”, as well as others pitched an octave blow the ‘ordinary’ oboe “which perfectly imitate the horn”. In the late 17th century, the transverse flute had been transformed from a one piece, keyless, cylindrical bore instrument into one with a conical bore, one key and in three sections. In the early 18th century, the body section of the flute was further divided, and Bizey was one of the early makers of the new four piece instrument. Bizey also built bass flutes, bass oboes and ‘bassoon-rackets’ – rackets were double-reed woodwind instruments of the Renaissance and Baroque periods of particularly deep compass. Such ‘hybrid’ instruments, with a characteristically ‘throaty’ tone, were never more than curiosities and failed to remain in use beyond the end of the 18th century ¬– by virtue of the design (essentially a bassoon in racket form), they retained the moisture from the player’s breath so that “the ducts dilated and they broke. In short the whole blew up”. Nevertheless, many individual instruments have survived! Incidentally, far from being true to its name, the racket was described by Praetorius as “quiet, almost like blowing through a comb.”

Made In

City

Paris

Country

France

Description

Technical Description

This flute, made of dark-stained wood, is in four sections, with a single silver key, two turned and decorated ivory ferrules, an ivory cap and ivory bushed circular embouchure hole. The overall length is 654mm and the sounding length (embouchure to foot) is 582mm. Unfortunately, the flute is not in good condition. The ivory ferrules (which may be 18th century replacements) are cracked and discoloured, the keymount has been crudely repaired with sealing wax, the key is a replacement and the foot appears to be from another flute with a different style of ferrule, although it, like the top section of the body, is stamped “BIZEY” with a small fleur-de-lys. Technical description: Dark-stained wood; 4 sections; silver key; 2 turned and decorated wide ivory ferrules and ivory cap; ivory bushed circular embouchure-hole; slim silver ferrule on foot; finger-holes slightly larger than on (MIMEd 0011). Keymount type: ring; SATK. Keyhead type: flat spade-shaped. Performance characteristics: [Original range D⁴ - A⁶]. Not playable in present condition. Usable pitch: A pitch of A⁴ c 392 Hz has been suggested by J. F. Beaudin Repair History: Originally SATB; keymount roughly repaired with sealing wax; foot is perhaps from another flute, with a different style of ferrule, and key is a replacement; ivory ferrules may be 18th century replacements. Technical drawing available from the Friends of St Cecilia's Hall. Please see http://www.stceciliasfriends.org.uk/

Provenance

Purchased with assistance from the Government's Local Museums Purchase Fund and the University's General Council Trust, 1983.

Classification